Custom Fitness in Lincoln is the latest business to employ a graduate intern and benefit from funding and support during the coronavirus outbreak thanks to the Productivity Programme for Greater Lincolnshire.

Custom Fitness, founded in 2010 by owner Dave Poole, is a fitness gym and coaching facility in Lincoln which delivers group and personal training to its members.

Just before the coronavirus outbreak, the company had secured a £3,000 grant which was used to employ graduate intern and fitness coach Claire Allsopp, to support its expansion plans and meet the increased demands of its growing members.

But in line with the UK lockdown measures, Custom Fitness was forced to close its doors in March. Despite this, the company has retained all its members throughout the crisis and has adapted its operations to deliver fitness sessions online using platforms such as Webex.

“We were devastated when we had to close up as we had a particularly strong period of growth over the previous six months. However, this period has allowed us to innovate and strengthen our online presence as well as our operations – we’ve also been able to upskill our coaching team,” said Dave.

“We’re so pleased to have retained all of our members throughout this difficult time – everyone is still able to train up to six times a week and we’re running over 40 weekly fitness sessions ranging from personal training to group training.

“It’s thanks to the funding that we were able to employ Claire on an initial three-month contract which was then extended by three months – and now that the internship has come to an end, we’ve retained Claire as a full-time fitness coach, even during the coronavirus pandemic.

“As a small business we’ve been able to invest in a new member of staff who has brought key skills to the organisation. As well as helping to train our members, Claire has been heavily involved in putting together new procedures which we will have to implement once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

“I’ve seen the benefits of employing an intern and would encourage others who are in similar positions to do the same.”

To find out more about how you can get involved with the Productivity Programme, visit: http://www.productivityprogramme.co.uk/. Alternatively contact Karen Lockley or Charli Whittaker by emailing: productivity@lincoln.ac.uk.